FYI-You may want to grab a drink before you read this. It's a wee bit long. I've saved the photos for the bottom. No peaking.....you have to read first then comes dessert.)
"I come from the land of plenty.......He just smiled and gave me a vegemite sandwich".........Name that tune!!
Okay so you are thinking where is she going with this. Has she gone MAD!! Well a couple of weeks ago I had the privilege of going to the Brickworks Picnic which is in its third year now. The Event raises money in support of Evergreen and the Slow Food Toronto Movement.
As it says on their website "Evergreen is a not-for-profit organization that makes cities more livable. Evergreen is improving the health of our cities — now and for the future."Check out their website at www.evergreen.ca/picnic.
The Brickworks is actually an old brick quarry dating back to the late 19th century. It now holds a weekly farmers market as well as other sustainability events. It will soon be the home to the Evergreen's Environmental Community Centre opening in the 2010. It is located just off Bayview Avenue, south of Pottery Road.
The Slow Food Movement is an international organization founded in 1986 in Italy by Carlo Petrini who was appalled when McDonald's planned to build a franchise outlet near the Piazza di Spagna in Rome. He recognized our fast food culture was eroding one of the greatest pleasure of life. The Slow Food Movement speaks to the reminder of the importance of culture and tradition and biodiversity in the food that we eat which also nourishes our soul in my opinion.
The image that it conjures up for me is that of when I was a child and we all sat down at the table together to have our meals and talk about the goings on of the day. It speaks to community. It speaks to moments captured in a slower pace of life. It reminds me of going to the local butcher shop, and the bakery with my mum. The corner market with all local fruits and vegetables. You ate what was in season.
(Oh and at that same dinner table we also talked politics. Being scottish you have to be politically savvy or they eat their young!! You can't be scottish and not talk politics. Yes many a good conversation was had.)
The theme this year was "Going Local Globally". My fellow human beings let me just say.......okay wait a second, I'm starting to sound like a speech from a valedictorian address or, yup, a....politician. Yikes, quick, change tactics.....I'm rubbing it out with my imaginery eraser.....let me start again....
Canada(ians),we do come from the land of plenty! How lucky are we that we should live in a country of many cultures. I was once again reminded of what we have right at our very own door step!
As I entered the "Picnic" area (a.k.a. grazing grounds for humans) I was in awe of the amount of people in attendance. Obviously people have responded to the call out to "Go Local". I talked to so many truly committed farmers, chefs, and the teachers of the different types of farming techniques. I talked to people who do the certifications of farms for organic and biodynamic principles. I talked, talked, talked, talked, talked. You are not surprised by that comment, are you?
It was while talking that I had an AHA moment when I realized I was starting to get that feeling that washes over me every time I enter a marathon or road race. You are at the start line and suddenly all of those lonely months that you have been training for this moment, when you feel that you were the only crazy KOOK out there in the sub zero weather or the stifling heat of the summer comes flooding back to you. Suddenly you look around and all of the rest of the crazy KOOKS in the world who have been doing the exact same thing are all right there with you and rarin' to go at the start line. You were not alone at all. I can't help it but I just get teary eyed and filled with emotion every single time. Call me crazy but hey it's me all over!
So what does that have to do with the Brickworks Picnic? Well as I looked around and saw all of the people in this one place, at this one time, in the same stratesphere of things I started to think how the farmers, chefs and teachers must be feeling, that all of the other KOOKS showed up in a display of commeraderie, spirit and support with a big shout of approval for all of their hard work, be it working in the fields, or working in the kitchen. They were not alone as this day was to prove.
How does going local globally come into play? Well as I say we are so fortunate to have many cultures in this great country and at the "Picnic" ethnicities of cooking styles and flavours abounded. Each chef of various backgrounds (Africa, Middle Eastern, Indian etcetera...) was paired with a local chef and a local grower to highlight a seasonal ingredient. I tasted everything from Canadian bison to Morrocan couscous, Hungarian plum pudding to root vegetables with "hints of North Africa" as it was described to me. I know, I know, I couldn't believe it either. Sheer delight and utter amazement comes to mind. Yep as I say we are not starved for lack of choice my fellow citizens.
I took some pictures. My camera batteries were lower than I thought so I didn't get to take as many as I would of liked to but I did get some. Note to self: carry spare batteries!
Just a wee smattering of the info I picked up.
Oh look, it's thee most famous supporter of the Go Local Scene in Toronto, Chef Jamie Kennedy. I was pretending not to notice that he was there. Is that bad of me? I was taking a photo of the Southbrook Winery table. From the photo you wouldn't know what table I was at. Why I was at the Chef Jamie Kennedy table I was!
It's Pumpkin Beer from the Great Lakes Brewery. Just in time for Halloween! Yes it does have pumpkin in the brew. http://www.greatlakesbeer.com/
This was delicioso!! Phyllo pastry with fresh peaches, chevre and ricotto cheese in a peach reduction. Is your mouth watering? This dessert absolutely melted in my mine.
This young gentleman is named Parker. He works at the Artisanale Cafe & Bistro in Guelph, Ontario where this lovely desert is made. http://www.artisanale.ca/. The peaches used were from Bizjak Farms. They don't seem to have a website however you can check them out http://www.mypick.ca/ to find out more about them or you can contact Milan Bizjak at MBIZJAK2@SYMPATICO.CA 905-563-8161. They are in Beamsville, Ontario.
How true! At my local shop they are selling canned peaches, with maybe two peaches at most in them, have travelled across the world from South Africa and selling for almost $2.00 a can. I know, it does not make any sense. We have these magnificent peaches grown right here
waiting for you to take them home.
This is Chef Ezra Title of Chezvous Dining.
Chef Ezra prepared this delicious chicken liver pate with pickled wild leeks, fried chicken skin in a Manischewitz wine reduction, served on his mum's chala. The amazing array of flavours and textures lingered on the palate. Fabulous!
Hungarian Plum Pudding. Can you say Magnificent!! Yes I can!! This photo does not do this dessert any justice I'm afraid. It is made with local plums from Warners Farm in Beamsville. I wish you could taste right through your computer screen. Really I wish! These were made by LOIC Gourmet at http://www.loicgourmet.ca/ in Toronto.
This is Dawn Woodward owner of Evelyn's crackers. That's little Evelyn (her daughter) on the poster to the right. From the brochure it says "Evelyn's crackers are made from 100% organic local grains. Evelyn's crackers proudly includes Red Fife whole wheat flour in their crackers; a wheat that dates back to the 19th century settlement of Otonbee Township of Ontario." You can see the flour to the left of Dawn in the little sack with red printing. These crackers were beautiful, rich with flavour. She also makes an amazing shortbread cookie. This too was delicious. Being a scots girl I definitely know a good shortbread when I taste it and this was a stunner as we say in Scotland. To find out more about this very interesting wheat as well as other grains that they use go to
http://www.evelynscrackers.com/
This was Plum Streusel Cake using local plums.
Our very own organic brewery, Mill St. Always refreshing!
Ah yes the Slow Roasted Tomato with Moroccan Couscous, Raisins and Cucumber from Viva Tasting. This was delightful. Ever so delicate and a refreshing marriage of flavours. http://www.vivatastings.com/. The tomatoes were from Sovereigns Farms.
This lady is Karen Maitland of the Ecological Farmers Assocation of Ontario and this gentleman is Andrew Miller, the Farm Manager at Cherryvale Organic Farms. We had a great converstation. I will write about them in an upcoming blog.
So why did I take a photo of Zoom Media who sponsored some of the seating in the little cafe? Well the one and only Mr. Moses Znaimer of City T.V. fame is "Zoom Media." (He no longer owns City T.V. station.) Being the incredible genius I believe him to be and always able to re-invent himself and have his finger on the pulse, he now has this great magazine called "Zoomer". He also owns 96.3 F.M. classical radio station. By the way he coined the phrase "Zoomer". I love it and Mr. Znaimer!
This band was playing. Unfortunately I don't know their name but they were awfully good!
Around the world in an afternoon.......
.........and back again !!
Thank goodness for Volunteers!
Thank goodness for Sponsors!
This barely touches the surface of what I tasted, saw and learned. There were lots of Ontario wineries there too. This is one event you must put on your calendar for next year. It is money well spent.
Ciao and chow for now (locally of course).
Jacqueline
